Exposition of John, Chapter 12 · Verse 26
Ver. 42. Nevertheleſſe, among the chiefe rulers alſo, many beleeved on him; but becauſe of the Phariſees, they did not confeſſe him, leſt they ſhould be put out of the Synagogue.
43. For they loved the praiſe of men more then the praiſe of God.
In theſe verſes is recorded Chriſts ſucceſſe among another ſort of hearers, even hid and timorous friends, and theſe of chief rank. Of theſe it is ſaid. 1. That though they did indeed beleeve, yet they durſt not confeſs, nor avow Chriſt. 2. That the impediment hindering them, was fear of excommunication from the Phariſees. 3. That the reaſon why this was an impediment, was their love of credite and applauſe among men, which they, in this particular, preferred to the approbation of God. Which albeit where it beareth full ſwey, is an invincible impediment to grace, Chap. 5.44. Yet prevailing here but in part, and being only in one particular of not confeſſion, it doth not anul the reality of their grace, though it prove the great weakneſs thereof.
From verſe 42. Learn, 1. Even in times of greateſt obſtinacy, and where the Word comes worſt ſpeed, the Miniſtry will ſtill have ſome ſucceſſe, and not be in vain; Therefore is it declared, that in this time, Chriſt had ſome hidden ones (beſide his own flock that followed and avowed him) who beleeved on him, when the generality were hardened. See 1 King. 19.18. Rom. 11.4. 2. Chriſt is ſo powerful in the Miniſtry of his Word, that he will (when he pleaſeth) work upon them who have many impediments in their way, and who are amongſt the moſt bitter enemies to him; for, among the chief rulers alſo (who were bitter enemies to Chriſt) many beleeved on him. And albeit they were under ſo many tentations, that they durſt not confeſs him; yet they are made to beleeve. 3. Albeit the converſion of any be a work of omnipotency; yet the converſion of the greater ſort of men, who have ſo many tentations and impediments in their way, is more to be admired then the bringing in of the meaner ſort, eſpecially in corrupt times of the Church; Therefore is it eſpecially marked, that among the chief rulers alſo, many beleeved on him. 4. There may be true faith and grace, where yet there is much infirmity, to ſmother and bear it down; for, they beleeved on him, though they durſt not avow it. This ought not to make men flatter themſelves in their weakneſs, but ſhould teach others to be charitable, and to encourage and ſtir up ſuch to be more ſtrong, having ſuch a ſeed in them as will prevail, and not to weaken their hands from duty, by thinking they are graceleſſe, becauſe they are weak. 5. Faith is in a very weak condition, when confeſſion is not joyned with it, and when men do not profeſſe Chriſt and the true Religion, nor avow him in troublous times, and by their converſation lift not up a banner, profeſſing that they are his followers; for, this was the infirmity of their faith, although they beleeved on him, yet they did not confeſſe him. Albeit a bate outſide profeſſion be to be condemned, yet if it be well grounded, it is commendable, and as neceſſary in its own kinde, as beleeving is in its kinde, Rom. 10.10. 6. Carnal fear of men, and danger from them, is a great impediment to the avowing of Chriſt; for, becauſe of the Phariſees, they did not confeſſe him. Albeit they were not ſo powerful againſt Chriſt, as to hinder their heart from beleeving, yet they deterred them from confeſſing with their mouths. This is an impediment to be removed by truſt in God, Prov. 29.25. and by the fear of his dreadfulneſſe, Matth 10.28. 7. It is a great judgement, and an evidence of great wickedneſs in men, when not only men will not come to Chriſt themſelves, but they are a terrour to all theſe who would embrace and avow him; for, ſuch were the Phariſees here, becauſe of whom they did not confeſſe him. See Matth, 23.13. 8. Albeit all men are naturally affraid to hazard any thing for Chriſt; Yet, ordinarily, fear prevails moſt with them who are eminent, and have moſt to looſe; for, it was the chief rulers, who, becauſe of the Phariſees, did not confeſſe him, leſt they ſhould loſe their place and reputation; But it was otherwiſe with the blinde man, Chap. 9.30. — 34. 9. Excommunication is a divine Ordinance in the houſe of God, and which was in force in the moſt corrupt times of the Jewiſh Church; As, here, they kept it in uſe, to put men out of the Synagogue, of which we have ſpoken formerly. 10. Not only mean perſons, but profeſſours of greateſt rank and place in the Church, are ſubject to the cenſure of excommunication, and it may juſtly be inflicted, upon their miſcarriage; for, herein alſo they followed the rule, that even the chief rulers were kept under hazard of being put out of the Synagogue. 11. In corrupt times of the Church, Chriſts Ordinances are all abuſed, and the edge of cenſures turned againſt him and his followers; for, ſo was it here, they who did confeſs Chriſt were in hazard to be put out of the Synagogue. 12. Excommunication is in it ſelfe a dreadful cenſure, and ought to be eſteemed ſo by all Church members, albeit the inflicting thereof injuſtly ought not to terrifie men from duty; for, it was their carnal fear that made them ſhrink from duty, leſt the Phariſees ſhould injuſtly inflict it, yet their fearing of it, though chief Rulers, teſtifies how much that cenſure in it ſelfe was feared in that Church.
From verſe 43. Learn, 1. It is not enough to ſee the evils into which men break out and fall, unleſs alſo the cauſes drawing on this evil be ſeen and diſcovered; Therefore doth John ſearch into the fountain-cauſe driving them on this ſnare. 2. Shame and diſreſpect for Chriſts cauſe, is true glory and honour in Gods account; for, it is ſuppoſed that if they had loſt the praiſe of men, it had been their praiſe from God. 3. There is no greater ſnare to draw a man from duty, then inordinate affection to his credite and reputation; for, if all other loſſes they might have ſuſtained, this intangled them moſt, that they would looſe the praiſe of men. 4. Selfe love, and ſelfe-ſeeking, and hunting after credite and applauſe, are evils ſo dear to men, and ſo deeply rooted in them, that even beleevers may be overpowered by ſtrong remainders thereof, even ſometime to the neglecting of Gods teſtimony and approbation; for, even they who beleeved on him, ver. 42. yet loved the praiſe of men more then the praiſe of God. 5. So long as men let thoughts of earthly credite and reputation ſwallow up the thoughts of divine approbation and praiſe, they will never clearly avow Chriſt and his truth, in a time of trial; for, they did not confeſſe him, ver. 42 for, they loved the praiſe of men more then the praiſe of God. Whereas the more men ſtudy to approve themſelves to God, and reſt in his approbation, the more vile will this worlds praiſe grow in their eyes, and it will ſtumble them the leſs to want it. 6. Such as are taken up with their credite, and with applauſe from men, neglecting Gods approbation, they do make a very poor choice, and loſe more then they can gain; for, it is inſinuate, as their fault and di…advantage every way, that they loved the praiſe of men (which is of no worth) more then the praiſe of God, wherein mens happineſſe conſiſteth.